 LONDON – A massive block party will inundate the streets of London on June 12 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, party planners announced on Thursday. On Sunday, the queen’s birthday party will be held in the Mall, the wide avenue connecting Trafalgar Square with Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British royal family. Thousands of people are expected to attend the party, including representatives from over 600 charities supported by the queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince William and his brother Prince Harry, the sons of Prince Charles. The urban bash, complete with street food and drink, has been organized by Peter Phillips, one of the queen’s grandsons and the son of Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips. The party will serve as the culmination of a weekend of celebrations for the 90th birthday of Elizabeth II, which will also include a mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral on June 10, 2016. Peter Phillips said on Thursday that his grandmother is looking forward to the festivities, while he emphasized that the party aims to highlight the queen’s continued support for her charities. Queen Elizabeth actually turned 90 on April 21, 2016, but her birthday is traditionally and officially celebrated in June, when the weather is nice. |